Clayne woke up slowly from his sleep.

The hallway outside remained silent.

Completely silent.

The piled corpses blocking the stairs remained unmoving while the dim school lights illuminated the cleaned fourth floor hallway with pale yellow light. The smell of blood was mostly gone now because of the spiritual water he used earlier, though faint traces still lingered throughout the surroundings.

Meanwhile, inside the classroom he claimed for himself, bags were scattered everywhere.

School bags.

Plastic bags.

Emergency bags.

Snack bags.

Several were ripped apart already after his previous searches while others remained untouched. Different kinds of food filled the room now.

Biscuits.

Canned goods.

Juices.

Chocolates.

Chips.

Dried food.

And then his eyes landed on the fruits resting quietly on top of one desk.

Two apples.

Bright red.

Fresh.

Clayne slowly stared at them afterward.

Immediately, a thought appeared inside his head.

What if he placed them inside the tiny world and let them absorb spiritual qi?

Compared to chips, fruits probably contained far more natural essence already, so if spiritual qi gathered into them, then maybe their effects would become much better for cultivation.

The more he thought about it, the more tempted he became.

However, after thinking quietly for a while, he slowly shook his head.

"No."

He needed learning concealment arrays first.

That was far more important right now.

Strength alone was not enough anymore.

He already understood that clearly.

This apocalypse contained too many horrifying things already.

Mutated undead.

Parasite humans.

Cocoons.

Climbing zombies.

Unknown creatures.

And now even the higher realm from the tiny world existed.

If he could conceal himself properly, his survival rate would rise tremendously.

Meanwhile, Clayne slowly reached toward the tiny world afterward.

The floating islands drifted peacefully beneath his gaze while mist slowly covered parts of the Silent Sword Sect territory beautifully.

Immediately, several disciples noticed him.

Then afterward, the disciples became excited.

"Senior Deity!"

"Senior Deity is here!"

"Greetings Senior Deity!"

Several disciples immediately bowed respectfully while others smiled brightly.

Meanwhile, Clayne leaned closer slightly while resting his chin against one hand.

"So how’s your day?"

Immediately, the disciples became even more excited afterward.

One disciple quickly stepped forward respectfully.

"Senior Deity, because of the spiritual crumbs you bestowed upon us earlier, many disciples managed improving their cultivation greatly!"

Another disciple quickly added afterward.

"Our injuries healed much faster too!"

"And the spiritual qi around the sect became denser compared before!"

"Even ordinary disciples are progressing rapidly now!"

Another disciple looked emotional afterward.

"Senior Deity truly saved our Silent Sword Sect."

"If not for Senior Deity, we would have been annihilated completely by the Blood Soul Sect."

Several others immediately nodded afterward while continuously thanking him respectfully.

Meanwhile, Clayne scratched his cheek awkwardly.

Honestly, he still felt weird whenever they called him Senior Deity.

But after hearing it countless times already, he slowly became used to it.

Then suddenly, one disciple spoke excitedly afterward.

"Senior Sister Zi Yue returned earlier!"

Clayne blinked afterward.

"She’s back?"

The disciples immediately nodded enthusiastically.

"She returned together with Senior Brother Li and the other Core Formation disciples!"

"They are discussing the Blood Soul Sect situation inside the main palace right now!"

Meanwhile, Clayne looked toward the enormous palace floating above the central island.

The palace looked majestic.

Ancient.

Mysterious.

Massive white jade pillars supported the enormous structure while silver waterfalls flowed endlessly from floating cliffs surrounding it. Spiritual cranes circled peacefully through the skies while thick immortal mist drifted beautifully around the palace halls.

Golden spirit lamps illuminated the surroundings softly while countless sword marks decorated the ancient walls, each containing terrifying sword intent hidden within them.

The deeper parts of the palace looked even more extraordinary.

There were training halls.

Meditation chambers.

Ancient libraries.

Sword arenas.

Massive meeting halls.

Endless corridors.

Some sections even floated independently within the air while connected by glowing spirit bridges.

Meanwhile, Clayne suddenly froze afterward.

Because he realized something.

He could see everything.

Not just outside.

Inside too.

Even the deepest corners appeared clearly before him.

It felt like his consciousness itself entered the palace.

Immediately, Clayne became shocked afterward.

"What the hell?"

His vision moved smoothly through the palace afterward before finally stopping inside a massive discussion chamber.

Inside, several Core Formation cultivators sat around a circular jade table.

Zi Yue was there.

Senior Brother Li was there.

And beside them were several unfamiliar disciples radiating powerful spiritual qi.

All of them already reached Core Formation Realm.

Meanwhile, they were discussing something seriously.

"The Blood Soul Sect definitely won’t stop here," one Core Formation disciple spoke grimly.

"They lost too many people already."

"Their powerful masters died."

"Their ancestor Fu Shugao died."

"Several core elders died too."

"They will certainly seek revenge."

Another disciple clenched his fists afterward.

"The Blood Soul Sect has always been ruthless."

"They massacre entire sects merely because of minor conflicts."

"If they truly launch a full scale attack, our Silent Sword Sect might not survive."

Meanwhile, another disciple sighed heavily afterward.

"But fortunately, Senior Deity exists."

Immediately afterward, Senior Brother Li nodded confidently.

"Indeed."

"Senior Deity killed Fu Shugao effortlessly."

"And Fu Shugao’s strength was already close to Blood Soul Sect’s Patriarch’s level."

"If the Blood Soul Sect attacks again, Senior Deity can simply destroy them entirely."

Several disciples immediately nodded afterward while relief appeared on their faces.

Meanwhile, Zi Yue slowly released a long breath afterward.

"It is truly fortunate our Silent Sword Sect encountered Senior Deity."

"Otherwise, we would have perished already."

"Not just us."

"Even our inheritance."

"Our legacy."

"Our disciples."

"Everything would have vanished completely."

Her expression became serious afterward.

"So regardless what happens, we must always satisfy Senior Deity’s curiosity regarding immortal cultivation."

"He seems extremely interested in cultivation knowledge."

"We absolutely cannot disappoint him."

Senior Brother Li immediately nodded afterward.

"Agreed."

Another disciple nodded seriously afterward too.

"Senior Deity’s existence exceeds our understanding already."

"Yet despite such terrifying strength, he still speaks kindly toward us."

"That alone is already our great fortune."

Meanwhile, Zi Yue slowly looked downward afterward.

Then quietly, she spoke aloud.

"I wonder why Senior Deity joined our Silent Sword Sect."

Her expression looked complicated afterward.

"Regardless the reason, we are truly fortunate."

Suddenly, Clayne’s voice resounded throughout the palace.

"Because I’m bored."

The entire discussion chamber froze instantly afterward.

Every Core Formation disciple widened their eyes immediately while looking around frantically.

Meanwhile, Clayne could not help grinning afterward.

"What?"

"You all don’t want me joining your Silent Sword Sect?"

Immediately, all the disciples panicked afterward.

"No!"

"Absolutely not!"

"It is our greatest fortune!"

"We are incredibly honored!"

"Senior Deity joining our sect is the greatest blessing our Silent Sword Sect ever received!"

Zi Yue immediately stood respectfully afterward.

"Senior Deity misunderstands us completely!"

"This junior merely wondered how our insignificant sect gained such favor from Senior Deity!"

Senior Brother Li nodded rapidly afterward.

"Yes!"

"Even ancient immortal sects would dream endlessly hoping an existence like Senior Deity joins them!"

Another disciple immediately added afterward.

"If word spreads outside, countless sects would envy us to death!"

Meanwhile, Clayne chuckled quietly afterward.

Then suddenly, he asked curiously.

"By the way."

"Our sect became misty recently."

"The surroundings look pretty good too."

"The fog became thicker everywhere."

"What is that?"

Immediately afterward, the disciples understood what he meant.

Zi Yue quickly explained respectfully afterward.

"Senior Deity, that is our sect’s concealment array."

"The Silent Sword Mist Array."

Clayne’s eyes immediately lit up afterward.

Meanwhile, Zi Yue continued speaking carefully.

"Our Silent Sword Sect specializes in concealment, assassination, silent movement, hidden sword techniques, and stealth methods."

"The Silent Sword Mist Array is one of our sect’s foundational formations."

"It uses spiritual qi circulating throughout the surrounding mountains and islands while creating dense spiritual mist."

"The mist itself contains illusion properties."

"If outsiders enter carelessly, their senses become confused."

"They lose direction."

"They see false paths."

"They hear misleading sounds."

"Even spiritual senses become distorted inside the mist."

Senior Brother Li added afterward.

"Additionally, the mist conceals the sect itself."

"Ordinary cultivators cannot locate our territory easily."

"Even stronger cultivators require specific techniques breaking through the formation."

Another disciple spoke proudly afterward.

"If enemies invade recklessly, they become trapped endlessly within the mist while our disciples silently eliminate them one by one."

Zi Yue nodded afterward before continuing further.

"The formation also weakens enemy perception."

"Footsteps become difficult hearing."

"Hidden attacks become harder sensing."

"And because our Silent Sword Sect techniques specialize in silent killing methods, the mist formation greatly increases our advantage."

Meanwhile, Clayne listened extremely carefully afterward.

His eyes slowly brightened more and more.

This was exactly what he needed.

Concealment.

Hidden movement.

Distorted senses.

Silent attacks.

Everything matched perfectly with his current situation inside the apocalypse.

Immediately afterward, Clayne leaned closer slightly.

Then excitedly, he spoke.

"I’m interested."

"Tell me more!"